Written by

Chris Branch
Commentary

A day after Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. fired Charlie Manuel, interim manager Ryne Sandberg settled in as the head honcho. ¶ For the next 40 games, this is the new normal.¶ For Amaro, dismissing Manuel was a bold, but seemingly necessary move, though it could've been handled with much more grace. Still, this team needs life, and with the 69-year-old Manuel in the last year of his contract, the change makes sense if you're looking at the Phillies' future. ¶ With Manuel now out of the picture, however, Amaro has no more scapegoats.¶ It's all on him.